A TOWN centre property which was recently used as a temporary public library in Wellington is going to auction in December on behalf of its owner Somerset Council.

The council has instructed a £250,000 guide price to be put on 55 North Street, with town councillors recently turning down an offer to acquire the now-redundant building.

Property specialist Greenslade Taylor Hunt (GTH) said the building represented ‘redevelopment potential in the heart of the town’ subject to appropriate planning permission being obtained.

Wellington’s public library relocated to the property for several months while its Fore Street premises underwent a £1.3 million refurbishment.

The three-storey Wellington Library was officially re-opened by town mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd in October.

The North Street premises, which sit opposite the town’s fire station and was formerly home to the health and wellbeing charity WHERE Centre, will be auctioned by GTH on Wednesday, December 11, as part of a fire sale of Somerset Council assets as the authority tries to avoid bankruptcy.

A GTH spokesman said: “There has been no official planning submissions so far.

“The original stone building is grade two listed.

“It has potential to be converted into a large three or four-bedroom detached house.”

The spokesman said the rear part of the site comprised an open parking forecourt with a single-storey flat roof building, which could easily be demolished to open up the land and create space for new homes.

However, he said there were a couple of legal constraints to the site, with a public footpath connecting North Street to the Lodge Close elderly persons bungalows estate and running through the site, although it could be easily preserved.

There was also a vehicle right of way from the rear entrance in Lodge Close which ran through the site and served two adjoining properties, which would require further investigation.

More information on the property can be obtained from Graham Ford or George Williams by calling 01823 334466 or emailing [email protected] or [email protected], who can also arrange for viewings.

The auction will take place in Batch Country House, Lympsham.